Spark-plug short-circuiting device



M. J. GEBHARDT SPARK PLUG SHORT CIRCITING DEVICE June 26, 1.928. 1,675,024

Filed oct. v, 192s gjm/uente@ Patented .lune 26, 1928.

UNITED gs'rnres MICHAEL J.-GEBHARDT, or HOWARD LAKE, MINNESOTA.

SPARK-PLUG SHORT-CIRCITING DEVICE.

Application filed October 7, 1926. Serial No. 140,200.

This invention relates to spark plug short circuiting devices and more particularly to a device operable from the drivers seat of the vehicle to short circuit a selected plug or plugs during the operation'of the vehicle to determine whether these plugs are missing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be very readily applied to the vehicle, which may be cheaply and durably constructed and which will be a general improvement in the art.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing spark plug short-'circuiting apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the Figure 2.

.Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral generally designates the head of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and 11 bolts by means of which the head is held in position upon the cylinder block 12. Mounted in the cylinder head are the usual spark plugs 13. In accordance with my invention, I provide a bar 14 adapted to extend longitudinally of the line 4 4 of engine head adjacent the spark plugs 13 and.

having at its ends legs 15, the lower ends of which are provided with out-turned feet 16 abutting the engine head and having openings therein for the passage of the securing elements 11, so that the bar may be secured to the engine head. Pivoted upon the bar 14 adjacent each spark plug is a lever 17, one end of which is swingable into contact with the upper or head end 18 of the central electrode of the spark plug. lever 17 and toward the rear end of thc engine from the associated lever a support 19 is secured to the bar 14 having a splitupper are compres'sible by a screw 21 to clampingly engage the housing 22 of Bowden wire 23 which is connected to the lever.

The numeral 24 indicates a support arranged adjacent the drivers seat of the ve- Adjacent each end, as indicated at 20, the sections of which hicle. This support preferably comprises` the instrl'unent boai'd of the vehicle and has Y directed therethrough tubes4 25, each'having a flanged head 26 abutting the front face of the support. The rear ends of the tubes 25 are eXteriorly threaded for the reception of tube. Slidable .in the tube 25 is a plunger 29, the inner end of which is secured to the Bowden wire v23 and the outer end of which has a head 30 whereby it may be shifted.

In the use of the device, if, `inthe operation of the vehicle, the engine is apparently missing on one cylinder, by consecutively drawing out the plungers 29, so that the associated levers 17 will move into enga-gement with the adjacent spark plugs y18, "these spark plugs will be consecutively shorted,

the current passing from the head end 18 of the electrode through the lever 17, bar 14 and legs 15 to the head of the engine. When the plug of the missing cylinder is short- 1 circuited, no difference will be noted in the operation of the engine and the operator may thus determine which cylind-er is actually causing the trouble without leaving .his seat.

- A device ofvthis construction may be left continually applied to the head of the engine and will not' in any way interfere with the insertion or removal of the spark plug or with other operations which it is necessary to perform from time to time.

Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such specilic structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claimz- Y Y A spark plug short circuiting device adapted to be used in conjunction with a series of spaced plugs comprising a substantially U-shaped bar having feetV adapted to bear against the head of an engine and disposed transversely to the lengths of the spark plugs, the intermediate portion of the said bar being disposed at an acute angle to the lengths of the spark plugs, levers pivotally mounted upon the intermediate portion of the bar and having end portions converg- 65 end of the housing 22 .is connected to the".

each of said levers having one endportion Y adapted to encounter.' one of. the spark plugs when disposed transversely thereof, Wires connected with the other endsof the levers and Combined clamp guides mounted upon the intermediate portionlothe yhar and receiving sa'idwires. N

In testimony whereof I hereunto :niix my signature.

MICHAEL J. GEBHARDT. 

